| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[N = 1.15\,mg\] | The apparent weight is the normal force \(N\). A 15% increase means \(N\) is 1.15 times the true weight \(mg\). |
| 2 | \[N \;{\large\gtrless}\; mg\] | On a dip, occupants feel heavier so \(N > mg\); on a hill they feel lighter so \(N < mg\). |
| 3 | \[1.15\,mg > mg\] | Because the measured normal force is larger, the car must be at the bottom of a dip (concave-up curve). |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[v_i = 30\;\text{m/s}\] | Given constant speed of the car. |
| 2 | \[N – mg = m\frac{v_i^2}{R}\] | At the lowest point of a dip, the net upward (center-seeking) force is the centripetal force \(m v_i^2 / R\). |
| 3 | \[1.15\,mg – mg = m\frac{v_i^2}{R}\] | Substitute \(N = 1.15\,mg\). |
| 4 | \[0.15\,mg = m\frac{v_i^2}{R}\] | Simplify the left side. |
| 5 | \[R = \frac{v_i^2}{0.15\,g}\] | Rearrange the equation to solve for the radius \(R\). |
| 6 | \[R = \frac{30^2}{0.15\times9.8}\;\text{m} = 6.1\times10^{2}\,\text{m}\] | Insert \(v_i = 30\,\text{m/s}\) and \(g = 9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\); compute the value. |
| 7 | \[\boxed{R \approx 6.1\times10^{2}\,\text{m}}\] | Final numerical result for the radius of vertical curvature. |
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A child has a toy tied to the end of a string and whirls the toy at constant speed in a horizontal circular path of radius \(R\). The toy completes each revolution of its motion in a time period \(T\). What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the toy (in terms of \(T\), \(R\), and \(g\))?
Why do pilots sometimes black out while pulling out at the bottom of a dive?
A race car traveling at a constant speed of \( 50 \) \( \text{m/s} \) drives around a circular track that is \( 500 \) \( \text{m} \) in diameter. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the car?
A group of astronauts in a spaceship are attempting to land on Mars. As they approach the planet, they begin to plan their descent to the surface.
A \( 60 \ \text{kg} \) person is riding in an elevator. At time \( t_1 \), the elevator is accelerating downward with a magnitude of \( 2 \ \text{m/s}^2 \). A short time later, at time \( t_2 \), the elevator is accelerating upward with a magnitude of \( 2 \ \text{m/s}^2 \). The ratio of the normal force exerted by the elevator on the person at time \( t_1 \) to that at time \( t_2 \) is most nearly
The ultracentrifuge is an important tool for separating and analyzing proteins. Because of the enormous centripetal accelerations, the centrifuge must be carefully balanced, with each sample matched by a sample of identical mass on the opposite side. Any difference in the masses of opposing samples creates a net force on the shaft of the rotor, potentially leading to a catastrophic failure of the apparatus. Suppose a scientist makes a slight error in sample preparation and one sample has a mass \( 10 \) \( \text{mg} \) larger than the opposing sample.
If the samples are \( 12 \) \( \text{cm} \) from the axis of the rotor and the ultracentrifuge spins at \( 60000 \) \( \text{rpm} \), what is the magnitude of the net force on the rotor due to the unbalanced samples?
A pendulum consists of a ball of mass \( m \) suspended at the end of a massless cord of length \( L \). The pendulum is drawn aside through an angle of \( 60^\circ \) with the vertical and released. At the low point of its swing, the speed of the pendulum ball is

A particle of mass \(m\) slides down a fixed, frictionless sphere of radius \(R\), starting from rest at the top.
In terms of \(m\), \(g\), \(R\), and \(\theta\), determine each of the following for the particle while it is sliding on the sphere.
A person’s back is against the inner wall of a spinning cylinder with no support under their feet. If the radius is \(R\), find an expression for the minimum angular speed so the person does not slide down the wall. The coefficient of static friction is \(\mu_s\).
If you haven’t studied angular velocity \(\omega\) yet, just find the minumum linear velocity \(v\).
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\(\text{dip}\)
\(6.1\times10^{2}\,\text{m}\)
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| Kinematics | Forces |
|---|---|
| \(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\) | \(F = ma\) |
| \(v = v_i + at\) | \(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\) |
| \(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\) | \(f = \mu N\) |
| \(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\) | \(F_s =-kx\) |
| \(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) |
| Circular Motion | Energy |
|---|---|
| \(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\) | \(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\) |
| \(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\) | \(PE = mgh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\) | \(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\) |
| \(W = Fd \cos\theta\) |
| Momentum | Torque and Rotations |
|---|---|
| \(p = mv\) | \(\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)\) |
| \(J = \Delta p\) | \(I = \sum mr^2\) |
| \(p_i = p_f\) | \(L = I \cdot \omega\) |
| Simple Harmonic Motion | Fluids |
|---|---|
| \(F = -kx\) | \(P = \frac{F}{A}\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\) | \(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\) | \(Q = Av\) |
| \(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\) | \(F_b = \rho V g\) |
| \(a = -\omega^2 x\) | \(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\) |
| Constant | Description |
|---|---|
| [katex]g[/katex] | Acceleration due to gravity, typically [katex]9.8 , \text{m/s}^2[/katex] on Earth’s surface |
| [katex]G[/katex] | Universal Gravitational Constant, [katex]6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2[/katex] |
| [katex]\mu_k[/katex] and [katex]\mu_s[/katex] | Coefficients of kinetic ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) and static ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) friction, dimensionless. Static friction ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) is usually greater than kinetic friction ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) as it resists the start of motion. |
| [katex]k[/katex] | Spring constant, in [katex]\text{N/m}[/katex] |
| [katex] M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Earth |
| [katex] M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Moon |
| [katex] M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Sun |
| Variable | SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]s[/katex] (Displacement) | [katex]\text{meters (m)}[/katex] |
| [katex]v[/katex] (Velocity) | [katex]\text{meters per second (m/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]a[/katex] (Acceleration) | [katex]\text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]t[/katex] (Time) | [katex]\text{seconds (s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]m[/katex] (Mass) | [katex]\text{kilograms (kg)}[/katex] |
| Variable | Derived SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]F[/katex] (Force) | [katex]\text{newtons (N)}[/katex] |
| [katex]E[/katex], [katex]PE[/katex], [katex]KE[/katex] (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy) | [katex]\text{joules (J)}[/katex] |
| [katex]P[/katex] (Power) | [katex]\text{watts (W)}[/katex] |
| [katex]p[/katex] (Momentum) | [katex]\text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\omega[/katex] (Angular Velocity) | [katex]\text{radians per second (rad/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\tau[/katex] (Torque) | [katex]\text{newton meters (Nm)}[/katex] |
| [katex]I[/katex] (Moment of Inertia) | [katex]\text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]f[/katex] (Frequency) | [katex]\text{hertz (Hz)}[/katex] |
Metric Prefixes
Example of using unit analysis: Convert 5 kilometers to millimeters.
Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]
Use the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and meters to millimeters: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}}[/katex]
Perform the multiplication: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}} = 5 \times 10^3 \times 10^3 \, \text{mm}[/katex]
Simplify to get the final answer: [katex]\boxed{5 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm}}[/katex]
Prefix | Symbol | Power of Ten | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Pico- | p | [katex]10^{-12}[/katex] | 0.000000000001 |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | 0.000000001 |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | 0.000001 |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | 0.001 |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | 0.01 |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | 0.1 |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | 1 |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | 10 |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | 100 |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | 1,000 |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | 1,000,000 |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000 |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000,000 |
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